Steering device for traction-engines.



wh/noses 0;A.BRADLEY. STEERING DEVICE EOE EMOTION ENGINES. l.APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5, 1912. 1,056,967, E Patented Mar. 25, 1913.`

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. A. BRADLEY. STEERING DEVICE EOE TRAGTION ENGINES.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 5, 1912` 1,056,967'.l 'Patented Mar. 25, 1913.

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CHARLES A. ERAIDLEY, OF BURNSTAD, NORTH DAKOTA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOCHARLES HERNETT, OF BURNSTAD, NORTH DAKOTA.

STEERING I:DEVICE FOR TRACTION-EN GINES.

To all wh-m, it may concern Be it known that I, CI'iARLEs A. BRADLEY, acitizen of the United States, residing at Burnstad, inthe county ofLogan and State of North Dakota,- have invented certain new' and usefulImprovements in Steering Devices for Traction-Engines, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings.

This invention relates to steering devices for traction engines and hasfor its object to provide a simple, efficient and durable device forthis Vpurpose whereby the plows are directed or guided in the movementof the machine across the field.-

Another object of the invention is to provide improved'means foradjusting the steering wheels whereby the device may be used inconnection with the traction engine when employed for the purpose ofplowing or breaking ground, and may also be used for directing themachine upon the road or highway.

Still another object of the invention resides in theprovision ofmechanism for the above' and positive in its action and which may bemanufactured at comparatively small cost.

With the above and other objects in view as will become apparent as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions,combinations and arrangements of the parts that I shall hereinafterfully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to thefollowing descript-ion andaccompanying'k drawings, in

l which- Figure 1 is a top plan'view of ra steering device embodying thepresent invention showing the same attached to a traction engine; Fig. 2is a side elevation; Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on the line 3 8of F 1g.

1; F ig. 4 is asection taken on the linea-4.- of l Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is asection taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. l; Fig. 6 is -a detail perspectiveview of thesliding bearing member; ,Fig 7 is a det-ail section taken onthe line 7-7 of Fig. 1. f

Corresponding and like parts are referred 4to in the followingdescription and designated in the accompanying drawings by likereference characters. f

Referring in detail tothe drawings, 5 designates gener-allya vtractionengine of Specification of Letters Patent.

' vide a socket 14 in purpose which is extremely durablel Patented Mar.25, 1'9'13.

Application led June 5, 1912. v Serial No. 701,925.

any approved construction, and 6 and 7 the front and rear supportingaxles respectiyely. Upon the front axle 6 of the engine a bar 8 1smounted by means of the clips or clevises 9 which embrace said bar andare con nected thereto at their ends by mea-ns of the bolts 10. To thecenter of this transverselyzdisposed bar a forward longitudinallyextending beam 11.is secured. This beam as well as the bar 8 may beconstructed of angle iron, or other desired material. Inclined braces 12connect the ends of the bar 8 to the longitudinal beam l1. The abovedescribed construction constitutes the frame upon which the variouselements of my imsteering mechanism are mounted. The construction ofthis will now be described in detail. Upon the forward end of thelongitudinal beam 1-1, a perpendicular post or standard l3is rigidlyfixed at its 'lower end. The upper end of this standard islongitudinally bored to prowhich the lower end of a spindle-15 ismounted to rotate. this spindle the steering wheel 16 is rigidly fixed.A. transversely disposed bar l1.7 is

arranged above' the beam 11 at its forward` end and upon this beam asliding bearing 18 is arranged, said bearing including the block 19 andthe inverted U shaped metal straps 20. These straps carry set screws 20whereby the sliding in itsv adjusted position upon the bar 17. The block19 is centrally provided with an opening 21 to receive the stud 23 whichis formed upon the casting 22, bolted or 'otherwise rigidly fixed uponthe beam 11. One end of a brace bar 24 is secured to the rear end ofsaid casting, the'forward end of said brace bar being fixed to the upperend of the postor standard 13 immediately beneath thesteering wheel 16.By means of this construction it will be seenthat the bar 17 is free tooscillate vertically upon the stud 23'. In each end of the bar 17 thespindle 26 of a wheel carrying yoke 25 is mounted to rotate freely. Inone ofthe yokes 25 a furrow wheel 27 is mounted and in the other yokethe ground wheel 28 is mounted to .engage upon the land side of thefurrow. ,To the upper end Vof each ofthe steering wheel spindles 26 anarm 29 is secured by means of the set screws 30. Thesearmsextenfrearwardlyl and` are bifurcated to receive the ends of a transverselysteering bar steering mechanism.

bearing may be rigidly xed Upon '31. yAn arm 32is also fixed upon theupper oppo'sitesides of the steering bar 31, fand are provided withlanop'ening to receive a pin 37. The steering bar 31 is 'also providedwith a series of openings38 any Ione of which is adapted to receive saidpin.

The forward ends of the diagonally disposed rods 39'are connected to theends of the transverse bar 17 by means of the strap plates 40 which` arefixed to said rods and are disposed abovev and below the bar 17,

"said plates being provided with openings through which the" steeringwheel spindles `loosely extend. lThe rear ends of the rods 39 aretubularly formed as indicated at 41 to receive the rods Upon these rodscollars 42 are adjustablysecured' by means of suitable vset screwswhereby the relative sliding movement of said rods and the rods 39 maybe adjusted. In the beam 1 1 a transversely disposed pin 43 is securedand upon the ends of this pin the bifurcated members 44 are looselymounted .for rotative movement. To these members the rear ends of therods 42'are connected by means' ofthe pivot pins 45.

A` suitable -bearing indicated at 46 is secureddjo the forward end ofthe frame of the traction engine and upon this bearing a wheel segment47 is pivotally mounted. I The forwardly extending curved arms of thiswheel segment are preferably grooved to receive the `ends of `a cable48. This cable extends around thegrooved periphery of the steering wheel16, and between said steerin wheel and the wheel'segment 47 the cable iscrossed as shown in Fig. 1. Coil springs 49 are interposed in the cableat points adjacent its ends andare adapted to assimilate the shock orjarto the steering mechanism.

Upon the rear platform of the traction engine an operatin lever 50 ismounted and carries the usu'a spring pressed dog for lookin engagementwith the teeth of a rack 5,1. elower end of this lever which ex-`tendsbeneath the platform is connected by means of the rod 52 to thewheel segment 47 at one side of its pivotalpoint. Y v

From the above description the operation of the device willbe understoodas follows: The' steering wheels are` first adjusted by sliding thecaring 18 upon the transverse bar 17 so that one of said wheels isdisposed in the furrow and the other whejel upon the land side of thefurrow. The furrow wheel te preferably provided with a centralperipheral flange so that .the said wheel will maintain a position inthe base of the furrow: With the wheeis thus disposed, the engine willbe properly steered across the fieldl sov that a straight i furrow willbe road or highway, the bearing 18 is adjusted upon the bar 17 so as toposition the furrow and stubble wheels directly in front of the wheelsof themachine.' This may be readily done by simply loosening the screws20 and the securing screws of thecollars 42', and removing the pinconnecting the coupling head 36 to the steering bar 31. The bar 17 maythen be shifted transversely, and the bearing block 19 rigidly secured'mposition on the cross bar. ,The steering'wheels may be readily turnedbysimply manipulating the lever-50. Y'

From the fore oing it is thought that the construction an manner ofoperation of my improved steering device willbe' readily understood. The-device maybe easily and quickly attached to the front axle of tractionengines or other agricultural machines now in' general use. VOwing tothe 'ease with which the steering wheels may be turned, the operator isrelieved 'of considerable labor incident to the use of such devicesdesigned for the accomplishment of similar functions. It will further beappreciated that owing to the comparatively simple arrangement of thevarious elements employed, the deviceas a whole is extremely durable,eilicient in its action and may beproduced atsmall cost.

While I have shown and described the g preferred eonstmlction andarrangement of the various parts, it will be understood thattheinvention is susceptible of`considerable modication without departingfrom the essential features or sacrlicing any ofthe advantages thereof.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1 A steeringdevice of the character described comprlsing a frame andmeans for securing said frame to a vehicle axle, said frame including alongitudinally extending beam, a transverse bar mounted to oscillateupon said beam, means for adjusting said bar transversely on the beam,steerin wheels mounted in the ends of said bar, an means forsimultaneously adjusting said wheels. .-1

2. A steering device-of the lcharacter described oomprising a frame andmeans,n for attaching the same to a. vehicle axle, 'said frame includinga longitudinally extending beam, as oscillatory bearing mounted upon theforward end of said beam, a transverse bar mounted in said bearing,steering waeels' mounted upon the ends of 4said bar, and

iso

means forx simultaneously ladjusting saidl wheels.

arx'in its4 adjusted position, steering Wleels mounted upon the ends fofsaid bar, an, the bar fand the frame, said connecting means includingllongitudinally and relatively movable elements.

A steering'device ofthe character deL scribed comprising a frameandmeans for' attaching the same to a vehicle baxle', said frameincluding a longitudinally extending beam, a transversely adjustable barmountedto oscillate upon the forward end .of said b beam, steeringwheelsmounted in the ehds of said bar, andmembers p'ivotally connectedto the beam and to the'ends of said trans-y fverse bar and havingrelativelongitudinal sliding movement. 5. A steering device -scribedcomprising a frame and'means Afor attaching the same to a vehicle axle,a" transversely adjustable bar mounted to oscillate upon said frame,steering Wheels mounted in the ends of .said bar, j n

to the endsof said `transerods connected ,at one of their ends versebar, the other ends lof said rods being .tubularly ed upon gaged in thetubular ends of said i'irst named rods for longitudinal movement with'relaf l tion thereto. I

Copies o! this patent be obtained rforve cents each,

` j Washington, D. C.

connecting means between the ends of off th'elcharacter deformed, androds pivotally mount- V the :trame and telescopicallyeii-k ends of saidbar i 6.'A steering'device ofithe character describedcomprising a frameand means for attaching the same to a vehicle axle, a transversely.adjustable bar mounted to oscillate upon said frame,

steering Wheels mounted in the .ends of said bar,` rods connected to thefor lateral movement, said rods having-tubular pivotally connected theirends for vertical and lateral movement and telescopically engaged vinthe tubular j ends of the first named rods for longitudi-v nal movementwith relation thereto.

7. A steering device of thecliaracter described attaching the same! to avehicle axle spaced steering wheels .mounted iipoiisaid frame, ariiissecured upon the LWheel spindles, a steering bar connecting said arms, arotatable actuating Wheel, a connect-ionv between the spindle .oftheactuating Wheel and said ar including a rigid' arm fixed on the Wheelspindle and provided with a longitudinal socket, a member adjustableupon the steer- `ing bar-,and loosely mounted in the' socket of saidarm, a vvheel segment, a`cable -iiXed' at its ends to said segment, saidcable being end portions, and rodsJ to the frame at one of s A;

comprising a frame and means for' crossed and traversing the actuatingwheel,

coil springs interposed inthe cable, and op- .erating means forsaidlWheel segment to 'rotate the actuating wheel and simultaneouslyposition the steering Wheels with relation -to the line of movementofthe vehicle.

Intestimony whereof `I-hereunto alix my signature inthe presence of twoWitnesses;

f. CHARLES A. BRADLEY.-

Witnesses laddressing" the Commissioner of Patents,v l

